On a related note, is an authorized instructor required to be present for a pilot to log approaches for the purpose of instrument currency? My part 141 school says no. Here's what I've come up with:

61.51(g)(4) says "A flight simulator or approved flight training device may be used by a person to log instrument time, provided an authorized instructor is present during the simulated flight."

AC 61-136 Appendix 2, #2 (Authorized Use) says "An authorized instructor must administer and properly endorse [flight simulation device] training to satisfy the regulatory requirements."

---however---

My school is going with an email we got from a guy known only as Lance from Washington FAA who says if you are trying to satisfy 61.57(c), you don't need an instructor present to log the BATD time.

If I had to choose between the FAR + AC, and Lance, I know what I'd pick, but I'm interested to hear if any other schools are doing this.

I don't know if it has to do with a LOA our school has (boss says there is one; can't find it), or if it has to do with whether you need to log "instrument time" when you're logging approaches for currency.